7 Pairs Of Pictures Showing You The Contrast Of The Cruelty Of The D-Day Battlefields In 1944 With The Serenity Of Present Day.

We now live in a peaceful world that makes us almost forget the cruelty of wars half a century ago, but this year marks 70 years since Allied invasion of France in 1944 with thousands of troops landed in Normandy. The Second World War destroyed almost half of the Earth, and most of mainland Europe has been damaged. On June 6, 1944, The Allies launched the biggest seaborne invasion Operation Overlord as they attempted to overcome the Nazi juggernaut. The pictures at that time show the coldness of the war. But nowadays, at the same place, there is no blood and wound and cold horrible tanks but tranquillization and serenity and relaxing sunbathers. Peace is so precious that we all hope there is no more wars! (Via: DailyMail)

1. Sands of time: Captured German soldiers at Bernieres-sur Mer, which was one of the first liberated towns.

2. Calmer waters: U.S. troops are helped ashore after their craft was sunk by enemy fire at Omaha Beach — which is now a popular spot for sunbathers.

3. Chaos of war: A crashed U.S. fighter plane on the waterfront at Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer near Juno Beach bears testament to the ferocity of fighting, where flags now fly prettily along the promenade.

4. Watching history: Residents look on as a Canadian bulldozer clears the Rue de Bayeux after the battle for Caen — the church towers somehow survived the Allied bombing, but much of the city had to be rebuilt.

5. Everyday horrors: The body of a dead German soldier lies in the main square of Trevieres near Omaha Beach. Today, the town is popular with families.

6. The invasion: U.S. craft of all shapes and sizes crowd onto Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 (top), to disgorge troops and equipment during the first stages of the Allied counter-attack, the greatest seaborne invasion in history. Bottom: 70 years on in May this year, the beach near Colleville-sur-Mer is a haven of peace.

7. Streets of change: A French tank gets a warm welcome passing through Sainte Mere Eglise — today the bombed building is a clothes shop.